One of the most effective ways to get more interest in your home and a higher sales price is by staging your home before putting it on the market. Yes, it’s a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a little effort into listing your home for sale. After all, your home is likely your largest investment, and when you sell it, you want to make sure you do so for top dollar.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 62% of real estate agents say that staging positively impacts a home’s sale price and time spent on the market.
Let’s take a look at what staging is and how you should approach it when getting ready to list your home for sale.
What Is Staging?
Put simply, staging is when you decorate and furnish a home with the intention of making it look appealing to buyers. Staging a home makes it look livable and move-in ready, which today’s buyers are looking for. When a home is staged, it is also easier to market. A staged home will look better in marketing photos since the furnishings and décor will be placed in a way that optimizes a room’s angles and features.
Some companies will come in, and either uses the furnishings you have to stage your home or bring in outside furnishings. You can also work with your real estate agent to attempt a DIY at staging. If that’s the route you want to take, here are some tips:
Don’t OverDo It
Don’t go out and buy all new furniture to stage your home. That’s not necessary. If you really want to, there are furniture rental companies where you can rent a sofa or bed for a month or so while your home is being marketed and shown for sale.
As far as decorating goes, keep it simple. Take down family photos and put up something simple like a world map to make the space look like it’s lived in, without being too personalized. This is the key to making someone feel like it could be their future home.
Tone It Down
Suppose you have bold, bright walls or furniture, it’s best to tone them down. You want the home to look decorated, but you don’t want the decorations to be the center of attention. That trendy bright yellow couch probably won’t appeal to the majority of buyers and may steal the show. Same with the massive antique headboard that takes up the entire length of your master bedroom and makes the room look small.
Remember, you aren’t selling furniture, you’re selling your home and want furniture and decorative pieces that make it look its best.
Take It Outside
More and more homebuyers have outdoor living on their homebuying wishlist. That means you should take the time to spruce up your yard and, if you don’t have it already, set up an outdoor living space. Setting up a simple table and chairs with a couple of potted plants can make an outdoor space look much more functional and inviting.
Don’t Stress
Lastly, staging your home doesn’t need to be stressful. Keep it neutral and straightforward, and you should be in good shape. Have any other questions? I’m here to help!